To be sincere, I didn’t know a lot (and by “a lot”, I imply ANYTHING) about Kyoto till I began planning my current journey to Japan. Rising up, I dreamed of visiting Tokyo, which I used to be capable of spend a while in earlier than and after my few days in Kyoto (learn my wheelchair accessible Tokyo journey information right here), however Kyoto was simply by no means actually on my want checklist. Nevertheless, as I researched cities in Japan within the months main as much as my journey, I used to be intrigued by Kyoto’s choices. 

Kyoto, the previous capital of Japan, is named “the land of 10,000 temples” though it truly has a bit lower than 2,000, however the metropolis affords rather more than temples and non secular websites. There are a plethora of wheelchair accessible Kyoto sights and issues to do, and through my few days within the metropolis, I attempted to expertise as a lot as doable. From attending a conventional Japanese tea ceremony to rolling by a bamboo forest and even taking a day journey to Nara and hand-feeding a whole lot of deer, Kyoto completely blew me away and I’m undecided if I loved Tokyo or Kyoto extra, as they had been each equally superb. 

My mother, our good friend Kayla, and I spent three nights in Kyoto and we took the Shinkansen bullet practice from Tokyo to Kyoto. The practice trip solely took about two hours and it was very wheelchair-friendly. We had been in an accessible non-public room on the practice, which was a bit small, however it labored completely for us. A wheelchair accessible restroom was simply throughout from our room as properly, which was nice. The corporate Inside Japan Excursions organized our total journey in Japan, together with reserving the Shinkansen bullet practice for us, they usually did a improbable job. I’d definitely suggest testing Inside Japan Excursions to your personal wheelchair accessible Japan getaway! 

Beneath, I’ll begin by telling you about a few of my favourite accessible issues to do in Kyoto, then I’ll let you know all about my wheelchair accessible day journey to Nara, and I’ll let you realize concerning the lodge we stayed at towards the top of this text. By the point you end studying this, you need to be properly ready to your personal journey to Kyoto as a wheelchair consumer. With out additional ado, right here is my wheelchair accessible information to Kyoto, Japan! 

Wheelchair Accessible Kyoto Sights & Issues to Do 

There are a selection of wheelchair accessible issues to do in Kyoto, so it’s essential to do thorough analysis forward of your journey. Work out what you’d wish to see and plan on it, however be sure you go away some free time in your itinerary for exploration. Listed below are some concepts of accessible issues to do to get you began! 

Attend a conventional tea ceremony

Any time I journey, I really like taking part in native cultural experiences. In Japan, tea is a large a part of the tradition and lifestyle, so once I discovered that it was doable to attend a conventional tea ceremony in Kyoto, I actually wished to do it. Instantly, I instructed Inside Japan Excursions they usually checked on the accessibility of the exercise. Fortunately, attending a tea ceremony is totally doable as a wheelchair consumer! 

In Kyoto, you possibly can attend a tea ceremony at WAK JAPAN. We booked a personal tea ceremony, which lasted one hour. Over the course of that hour, we discovered why tea is such an essential a part of Japanese tradition, the advantages of consuming tea, and our teacher taught us the best way to correctly make a cup of tea. 

There may be an artwork to creating tea in Japan, however because of the teacher’s help, we lastly mastered it and had been capable of get pleasure from some matcha. Normally, I’m not a fan of matcha, however it was actually good right here and I tremendously loved consuming it. I even purchased some matcha on the finish of the tea ceremony. 

When it comes to accessibility, a wood ramp was arrange for me at WAK JAPAN and whereas it was fairly steep, I used to be in a position to make use of it to get inside. As soon as inside, that they had a desk for me and I used to be capable of partake within the full tea ceremony expertise. 

The standard tea ceremony was a lot enjoyable to attend and I’d extremely encourage you to do it should you’ll be in Kyoto. Whether or not you’re a large tea drinker or not, I’m positive you’ll get pleasure from it as a result of it was a captivating expertise and certainly one of my favourite wheelchair accessible Kyoto actions. 

See the towering bamboo at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Rolling by the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in my wheelchair was like getting into one other world. The paved path wound by towering stalks of bamboo and I used to be in awe. The bamboo grove is situated solely about 20 minutes from downtown Kyoto, so it’s a must-visit for anybody exploring the realm! 

Earlier than visiting the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, I used to be a bit of involved about navigating the trail in my wheelchair, however it was extraordinarily accessible. The sleek, paved floor made for straightforward rolling, and there have been just a few mild slopes to cope with. It was great to have the ability to expertise this stunning place with out worrying about accessibility obstacles. After all, there have been moments the place the trail narrowed and I needed to be conscious of different guests, however everybody was thoughtful and made house for me to move. 

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is tremendously widespread, so it will get filled with individuals. If you happen to can, go as early as doable to keep away from the massive crowds. We received there at about 10am and it was already packed, however we nonetheless had a pleasant go to and managed to get some good pictures. 

We left the peaceable bamboo grove after about 40 minutes and rejoined the colourful streets of Arashiyama. In Arashiyama, there are a number of charming outlets and cafes the place you possibly can get pleasure from native crafts and scrumptious treats. I liked purchasing round for some time and was glad to seek out some wheelchair accessible outlets. Sadly, not all outlets are accessible on this space, however there have been a number of outlets that I might go to, so I used to be capable of snag some souvenirs. 

In case you are planning to go to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, plan to be within the space for a pair hours. You will get by the bamboo grove in 30-45 minutes, however you’ll need loads of time to discover Arashiyama’s outlets and eateries as properly. This can be a vibrant space with quite a bit to supply and it’s probably the greatest locations close to Kyoto. 

Discover two of Kyoto’s accessible temples

Town of Kyoto has rather less than 2,000 temples and whereas it’d be unimaginable to go to them multi function journey, I did have an opportunity to go to two of Kyoto’s most wheelchair accessible temples. If you may be within the metropolis as a wheelchair consumer, be sure you verify these out: 

Higashi Hongan-ji Temple – This Buddhist temple is residence to the world’s largest wood roof and the sheer scale of Higashi Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto took my breath away. Even earlier than getting into, the huge wood Goei-do Corridor was spectacular with its intricate carvings hinting on the grandeur inside.

As a wheelchair consumer, I used to be happy to seek out that Higashi Hongan-ji is remarkably accessible. Clean, vast pathways made it straightforward to navigate the temple grounds, and ramps had been thoughtfully positioned wherever wanted. I used to be capable of discover the primary halls and corridors with ease, appreciating the structure and the peaceable ambiance. It was actually empowering to expertise such a big historic and non secular web site with out encountering any obstacles.

Whereas the temple’s dimension may appear intimidating at first, the accessible design allowed me to totally immerse myself in its magnificence and spirituality. Each side of Higashi Hongan-ji appeared designed to encourage contemplation and reflection. It’s a spot I’d extremely suggest to anybody visiting Kyoto, no matter their mobility. 

Chionin Temple – Approaching Chionin Temple in Kyoto, I used to be instantly struck by the dimensions of its huge Sanmon gate, the biggest wood gate on this planet. As I navigated the temple grounds in my wheelchair, I used to be grateful for the vast, paved paths that made it straightforward to maneuver. The general accessibility was spectacular, permitting me to totally admire the grandeur of this essential Buddhist web site. 

One of many highlights was the expansive courtyard resulting in the primary corridor. The sleek, flat floor allowed me to effortlessly roll by the house, taking within the ambiance and the structure. I used to be notably fascinated by the intricate particulars of the Mieido Corridor, devoted to Honen, the founding father of the Jodo sect of Buddhism. 

My go to to Chionin Temple was a memorable expertise. The temple’s dedication to accessibility allowed me to discover a lot of this historic and religious web site. From the grand Sanmon gate to the peaceable courtyards, Chionin provided a glimpse into the wealthy cultural heritage of Kyoto, proving that historic traditions and fashionable accessibility can coexist fantastically.  

Store until you drop on the Teramachi Buying Arcade

In case you are searching for the last word place to do some purchasing in Kyoto, look no additional than the Teramachi Buying Arcade. We visited this purchasing paradise for about two hours and located some nice objects and souvenirs. 

The Teramachi Buying Arcade is alongside a paved pedestrian road and there are a whole lot of outlets and eateries to select from. Truthfully, I by no means thought the road would finish as a result of there have been so many outlets! The complete road is roofed as properly, so this might even be a pleasant exercise on a wet day. 

Most of the outlets had a single step to get inside, however I additionally discovered a wide range of wheelchair accessible outlets. This was a full of life space and I had a whole lot of enjoyable meandering across the Teramachi Buying Arcade for some time. If you happen to’re a fan of purchasing or simply wish to seize some souvenirs for family and friends again residence, that is definitely the place to go to in Kyoto! 

Roll by the well-known pink gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine

If you happen to lookup Kyoto on-line, I can nearly assure that the primary photos you’ll see can be of Fushimi Inari Shrine. That is undoubtedly the most well-liked place to go to in Kyoto and for good cause! It is extremely distinctive and completely stunning, and by chance, it’s partly wheelchair accessible. 

Fushimi Inari Shrine is legendary for its hundreds of pink torii gates that wind up the mountain. Wheelchair customers will be unable to roll by all the torii gates, however the starting of the route is accessible and I used to be capable of go to the primary two shrines. It’s totally paved as properly, so it was a easy trip. 

There are some pretty steep ramps initially of the trail, however I used to be capable of navigate them simply in my powered wheelchair. If you happen to use a handbook wheelchair, it’s possible you’ll want a bit of little bit of help. There may be an elevator that you just’ll want to make use of as properly, however please notice that the elevator is just out there from 9am-3pm, so that you do want to go to throughout these hours should you use a wheelchair. 

This Shinto shrine is a particular place and after visiting, I might completely see why it’s so widespread. It was based within the early 700s, making it certainly one of Kyoto’s oldest shrines. If you happen to’re visiting Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Shrine needs to be on the high of your checklist of locations to go to! 

See town from above at Kyoto Tower

To actually admire the fantastic thing about Kyoto, you should see it from above. And you are able to do simply that at Kyoto Tower! From the highest of this iconic landmark, you’ll have a fowl’s eye view of the complete metropolis and it’s a tremendous sight! 

If you end up on the statement deck of Kyoto Tower, you may be 328 ft excessive. To really get to the statement deck, there are elevators and a stair climber raise. I’m often a bit nervous about utilizing stair climber lifts, however this one was nice. It simply held my powered wheelchair and I (about 550 lbs in complete). 

As soon as I reached the statement deck, I used to be in a position to absorb the beautiful views because of the floor-to-ceiling home windows. The statement deck was fully indoors and provided 360-degree views all the way in which round. I might see all of Kyoto and positively gained a better appreciation for town. 

Admission to Kyoto Tower solely prices about $5 per grownup. If you happen to go to, be sure you take a look at the meals corridor on the backside of the tower as properly. We discovered some actually scrumptious meals right here, together with desserts and among the greatest tempura shrimp I’ve ever eaten. 

A Wheelchair Accessible Nara, Japan Day Journey

Town of Nara, Japan is situated only one hour from Kyoto, so it’s a good day journey vacation spot. In reality, our day journey to Nara may need been my favourite day of our total two weeks in Japan. Inside Japan Excursions organized our total day journey, together with accessible transportation, so it was an stress-free journey. We had a lot enjoyable and found that Nara has quite a bit to supply by way of accessible issues to do! 

Go to the unimaginable Horyuji Temple 

The Buddhist temple of Horyuji is situated in Nara and it was one of the vital stunning temples that I visited whereas in Japan. One factor that makes this temple actually distinctive is that it homes the world’s oldest surviving wood constructions, so there’s a whole lot of historical past to expertise and admire right here. 

Horyuji is among the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan (we’re speaking seventh century!) and I used to be blown away by the intricate particulars and craftsmanship. Most spectacular to me was the five-story pagoda, however there are such a lot of exceptional issues to see at Horyuji. It’s so exceptional that it was truly the primary ever UNESCO World Heritage Web site in Japan! How cool is that?! 

Wheelchair accessibility at Horyuji Temple was fairly good for essentially the most half. Ramps had been out there on the entrance, however they had been fairly steep. My powered wheelchair dealt with them high quality, however they had been definitely steep, so simply be sure you have somebody with you to help if wanted. As soon as contained in the Horyuji advanced, easy paved paths had been all through and I rolled round very simply.  

Each constructing at Horyuji wasn’t totally wheelchair accessible, however I used to be capable of expertise sufficient that I felt prefer it was a worthwhile go to. We stayed at Horyuji for a pair hours, however you can definitely keep longer, as there’s a lot to see right here. We visited a number of temples whereas in Japan, and all of us agreed that this may’ve been essentially the most spectacular one. 

Hand-feed the deer in Nara Park

Indisputably, visiting Nara Park is why I wished to go to Nara, and for one specific cause… in order that I might hand-feed deer! That’s proper, you possibly can hand-feed deer in Nara and it is among the most original journey experiences I’ve ever loved. 

Traditionally, the deer in Nara had been thought of divine messengers and they’re nonetheless sacred in the present day. There are roughly 1,200 deer in Nara they usually’re fully free to roam all through town as they want. You’ll positively see them throughout Nara Park, however should you’re up for it, you possibly can feed them. 

Particular crackers are on the market (they’re very low cost!) and I purchased various them to feed the deer. It’s fascinating, however while you go as much as a deer with a cracker in your hand, the deer will truly bow for it to sign that they need a cracker. It’s wild, however over time, the deer have discovered to do that. 

I loved feeding the deer a lot and I used to be solely bitten twice (it didn’t damage), so I contemplate myself fairly fortunate. Truthfully although, watch your again as you’re feeding them as a result of among the deer might be form of aggressive. So long as you keep conscious of your environment although, you need to have a memorable expertise with the deer of Nara. 

Watch the brief video beneath to see my expertise feeding the deer in Nara!

Be in awe of the enormous Buddha at Todai-ji Temple

Inside strolling/rolling distance of the place we fed the deer in Nara Park was Todai-ji Temple. Instantly upon arriving to the temple, I used to be awestruck by the scale of the Daibutsuden (Huge Buddha Corridor). It’s large, and one of many largest wood buildings on this planet! 

Even earlier than getting into the constructing, I might inform this place was particular. The large bronze Buddha statue inside is legendary (it’s the world’s largest bronze statue of Buddha!), and I used to be excited to see it up-close. Fortunately, the temple is sort of accessible, with ramps main as much as the corridor and loads of house to maneuver round inside. 

As soon as inside, I used to be speechless. The sheer scale of the Buddha statue is unimaginable, and the corridor itself is full of an air of peace and reverence. I wheeled across the statue, taking in each element of its design. The accessible pathways allowed me to stand up shut and admire the statue from completely different angles, one thing I actually appreciated.

Todai-ji is greater than only a large Buddha, although. The temple grounds are stunning and peaceable, with different historic buildings and beautiful gardens to discover. It’s positively a must-see for any customer to Nara, and I’m glad I used to be capable of expertise its grandeur and spirituality firsthand. 

View Nara from the highest of Mount Wakakusa

To finish our time in Nara, we wished to absorb the scenic views from the highest of Mount Wakakusa. The drive to the highest was comparatively straightforward with paved and easy roads, however it was definitely curvy. As soon as we reached the highest although, it was properly definitely worth the journey. 

From the parking space to the overlook, it was a few fifteen minute stroll/roll. There was a little bit of an incline, however I used to be glad that it was paved and easy for essentially the most half. As we received nearer to the overlook, the trail received a bit of bumpier, however it wasn’t too tough and by chance, the bumpier elements didn’t final very lengthy. 

Once we reached the overlook, the views had been unimaginable! We might see all of Nara and there have been even many deer wandering round on the overlook as properly. It was a ravishing expertise and the proper ending to our day journey in Nara, Japan. 

The place to Keep: Lodge Granvia Kyoto

Throughout our three nights in wheelchair accessible Kyoto, we stayed at Lodge Granvia. This lodge is situated in Kyoto Station, the primary practice station within the metropolis, so it was an especially handy location for us. Inside Kyoto Station, there are a whole lot of outlets and eating places, so we had a plethora of choices proper at our doorstep. 

We stayed in a universally accessible room and it had three single beds. The room was spacious sufficient for us, however upon arrival, I seen that the beds had been too low for me to switch into. We instructed the receptionist about this challenge and inside an hour, they raised the mattress to make it the proper peak for me. 

Within the lavatory, there was a pull-under sink, seize bars by the bathroom, and a bath. I can not switch into a bath and often want a roll-in bathe, however on this lavatory, the ground is totally waterproof, so I used to be capable of get in my bathe chair beside the bathtub and take a bathe (I used to be not within the tub in any respect for my bathe). The hand-held bathe wand was very lengthy and reached all the way in which to the center of the toilet. Surprisingly, all the water went down the drains and it labored completely for me. I used to be extremely impressed with this waterproof flooring idea. 

Lodge Granvia has a number of eating places on-site as properly, and we liked the breakfast buffet each morning. They’d so many breakfast objects to select from. 

If I’m ever again in Kyoto, this may completely be the lodge that I keep in once more. We liked our keep on this wheelchair accessible Kyoto lodge! If you happen to’d wish to study extra about Lodge Granvia or wish to verify charges for a keep of your individual, simply click on right here. 

We solely had a number of days to get pleasure from Kyoto’s many choices, however that was loads of time for us to fall in love with this superb metropolis. It’s actually a vacation spot not like anyplace else that I’ve been and should you’ll be in Japan, I’d urge you to test it out. Plan at the least a number of days to expertise all the wheelchair accessible Kyoto sights and the allure of Japan’s former capital metropolis! 

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